Simulated golf game board with adjustable green member



MEMBER J. T. LUCAS Nov. 14, 1967 SIMULATED GOLF GAME BOARD WITHADJUSTABLE GREEN Filed Dec. 29, 1964 INVENTOR.

J'oH/v 7T 1 0 CAS ATTOEN E Y United States Patent 3,352,558 SIMULATEDGOLF GAME BOARD WITH ADJUSTABLE GREEN MEMBER John T. Lucas, 933 SuccessAvc., Bridgeport, Conn. 06610 Filed Dec. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 421,788Claims. (Cl. 273-134) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf game comprisinga game board, constructed to simulate a fairway portion of a golf courseon which there is a slide, adjustably mounted thereon. The sliderepresents the putting green which can be moved to vary the distance ofthe successive holes to be played in the course of the game. Operativelyassociated with the board is a schedule representing the respectivedistances and par of each hole to be played and game tokens are includedto indicate the lay of the imaginary ball on the game board. Also, a dieis provided for randomly signifying the distance of the drive of a givenplayer and the strokes taken by the player to putt out the hole. Meansare also included for effecting the throw of the die.

This invention relates in general to a game device, and morespecifically to a gaming device for authentically simulating the game ofgolf.

Considerable efforts have been made to develop a game device in whichthe game of golf could be authentically simulated. Heretofore, the priorknown golfing game devices simulated a miniature golf course over whicha ball or projectile was advanced by engaging the same with aninstrument or tool representing a golf club. However, with suchminiature golf game constructions the real thrill of an authentic golfgame could not be appreciated or approached in that the play of the gamewas dependent upon the manual skill of an individual player; and furtherthat the play of the game was particularly confined to the physicalstructure of the miniature course. For this reason the course could notbe varied or changed. Such games then for the most part had no fixed parvalues for a given hole which would represent that of an actual game andthe skill of one player would be merely pitted against the skill ofanother player. Consequently, such game held little, if any, interest topersons of unequal skills. Thus, the known construction merely simulateda miniature golf game in that a ball or projectile was advanced over thelay of a miniature course by means of a tool to simulate a club.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a game device inwhich the game of golf can be authentically simulated to substantiallythat of an actual golfing game without utilizing a projectile or ball ofany kind.

Another object is to provide a game device to simulate the game of golfwherein any of the known or famous golf courses can be readily recreatedand played with all the authenticity of actual play thereat.

The foregoing objects, features and other advantages are attained inaccordance with this invention by a game board constructed and arrangedto simulate the fairway portion of a golf course and which is providedwith an adjustably mounted slide thereon to represent a movable puttinggreen. The arrangement is such that the slide representing the puttinggreen can be readily moved over the fairway representation of the boardto vary the distance of the successive holes to be played in accordancewith a predetermined schedule or course.

Accordingly, the fairway representation of the board may be marked offin predetermined distances so that the slide may be readily positionedat any of the distances marked thereon. A schedule representing a givenor fictitious course is provided whereby the respective distances andpar for each of the holes to be played can be readily noted and wherebythe slide may -be readily positioned in accordance therewith.

Game tokens are provided to indicate the position of the respectiveplayers over the game board during the play of the game. The play of thegame is conducted by an indicating means to randomly determine by chanceeither the distance of the drive of an imaginary ball along the fairwayportion of the game or the number of putts to hole out an imaginary'ball when a players position is on the green simulated by the slide.Means are also provided for penalty strokes just as in an actual golfinggame, and a score keeping means is included whereby the player can keepcount of his individual score.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of an improved gameboard construction wherein the game of golf can be actually simulatedwithout resorting to the use of any projectile or ball required to beadvanced, as by hitting it with a tool or the like.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein thedistances of the respective holes of the simulated golf game can bereadily adjusted in accordance to those of any well known golf course sothat the play of a known course can be simulated with the same accuracyand thrill of actual play thereon.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawings and specification in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a game embodiment in which theprinciples of the invention in question are utilized.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of construction detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a die construction utilized inconjunction with the play of the instant game.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a typical game token utilized inconjunction with the game of the instant invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a game device for simulatingthe game of golf. It comprises .a game board constructed and arranged soas to authentically simulate the play of the game of golf. As shown, thegame board 11 comprises a portion 12 representing the fairway of a golfcourse, and a slide 13 movable therealong to represent the golf green ofa golf course. In the illustrated embodiment of the fairway portion :12of the golf course is represented by a pair of opposed verticallydisposed side forming members 14, 15 which are connected in spacedrelationship by a bottom member 16. Spaced above the bottom member 16 isa top forming member or platform defining the fairway of the golfcourse. If desired, a front wall 18 and a rear wall 19 are provided tosupport the ends of the top member 17 on the bottom member 16. As bestseen in FIG. 1 it is to be noted that the top member or platform 17 ismade somewhat shorter than the bottom member 16 so that there is definedat the front end of the game board a well portion 20.

In the illustrated embodiment there is provided along each longitudinalside of the top member 17 means defining a slideway 21. As best seen inFIG. 2 the slideways 21 are defined by upwardly extending rails 17Aconnected to the top member. Accordingly, the slide 13 which is intendedto represent the green is arranged to rest on and slide along the rails17A of the board so that the slide may be readily adjusted therealong.As shown, the sides :14 and 15 extend slightly above the rails 17A toconfine the slide 13 therebetween.

In accordance with this invention the top member or platform 17representing the fairway is marked off by of the numeral 3, theindication 3 transversely extending lines into predetermined equaldistances to represent the distances between an imaginary tee 22 and animaginary hole 23 on slide 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the fairway is markedoff in hundreds of yards, as for example, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and600 yds.

At the front end of the top member 17 there is provided a strip 24 whichis marked ofito define stations 25 for game tokens 26 at the start ofthe play. Accordingly each station 25 may be separately colored todistinguish the players. The game token 26 may comprise a symbolic golfball 27 on a pedestal 28 or any other suitable object.

Along the sides of the slide 13, there are provided rows of numerals 29,e.g., l to 18, to indicate the numbers of the respective golf holes. Toindicate which hole is being played during the game, a game piece ormarker 30 in the form of a flag or the like is positioned at the numbercorresponding to the hole which is being played.

Extended along the back of the slide are marked off portions 31corresponding tothe starting stations 25 to indicate penalty stationswhen a player is operating under a penalty, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3,'the rear wall 19 of the game board isprovided with means 32 for supporting thereon a backboard including apair of backboard portions 33, 34. One portion 33 is utilized forindicating the number of strokes each individual player requires, andthe other portion 34 to indicate the yardage and par score for each ofthe holes to be played. The backboard may be made either as one piece ortwo pieces.

As shown, backboard portion 33 is marked off into columns, one for eachplayer, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4. In each of the columns, the numerals to 9 areset forth. Disposed on opposite sides of the respective numerals in eachof the columns are peg holes 35 adapted to receive peg marker 36 bywhich the individual players may keep track of their score. Therefore,by advancing the pegs 36 from a hole opposite onenurneral to the nextthe score of any given player can be readily noted. The holes 35 to theright of the numerals in each of the respective columns signify strokesunder ten corresponding to the adjacent numeral and the holes 35 to theleft of the numerals in each of the respective columns signify strokesover ten. Therefore, for example, if the peg is disposed to the right ofany of the numerals in the column, for example, numeral 3, the playerhas three strokes. If the peg is placed to'the left isthat the playerhas 13 strokes.

The other backboard portion 34 is divided up into columns to indicatethe numbers of the holes, yardage for each hole, and the par score foreach of the holes. As for example, the first hole is a 400 yd. par 4hole, the second hole is 300 yds. and a par 4, and so forth.

As best seen in FIG. 3 each of the backboard portions 33, 34 is providedwith projecting tongue 37 to be received in corresponding slot 32 formedalong the rear wall 19 of the game board. In this manner, the backboardcan be readily detached to facilitate the stowing and/or packing of thegame.

Means are provided for randomly indicating solely by chance either thedistance of a drive and/ or the number of putting strokes required tohole out during the play of any particular hole. As best seen in FIG. 4,the indicating means comprise a die 38 which is provided with six sidesorfaces. Each of the sides or faces of the die is provided with amarking thereon to signify either the yardage and/ or the puttingstrokes an individual player is charged with. Asbest seen in FIG. 4, theopposed faces of the die are each provided with a numeral 1, 2 or 3.Thus, upon the a roll of the die, only a 1,2 or 3 is possible.

In accordance with this invention and referring to FIG. 1, there isprovided adjacent'the front end of the game board a ledge 39 whichprojects over the well portion of the board. Extending upwardly from theledge there is provided an upright support or post 40 to which asimulated golf club 41 is pivotally connected. Thus, in accordance withthis invention, the throw of the die is effected by positioning the die38 on the ledge 39 as indicated in FIG. 1, and flipping the golf club 41so that the club will knock the die 38 off the ledge and into the well20 of the game board. In this manner, a player may effect the throw ofthe die to determine his respective position on the game board when histurn is had. Since the play of the game is controlled entirely by thethrow of the die 38 it will be apparent that manual requisite for theplay of the game. For this reason, the game can be played with equalopportunity by persons of varying skills and/ or age.

With the structure of the game thus described, the operation or play ofthe game is as follows:

With the respective backboard portions 33, 34 for keeping score, and fordetermining the number, yardage and par of the respective holes,assembled on the back wall 19 of the game board as shown in FIG. 1, theslide 13 representing the putting green is placed along the fairwaymarking corresponding to the yardage indicated for hole 1 on thebackboard 34. For example, hole No. 1 in the illustrated embodiment is400 yards. Consequently, the green or slide is moved to the 400 yd. markor stripe on the fairway. This then indicates to the players that thefirst hole to be played is a 400 yd. hole with a par of four strokes.The first player to tee off then positions his marker or token on thetee 22 and the die 38 on the ledge 39 and rolls the die into the well 20by hitting the same with the club 41. Whatever marking appears on theface of the die indicates the distance of the first players drive, andhe accordingly positions his token 26 at the fairway mark correspondingto that. For example, if the numeral 2 of the die faces up, then theindication is that the player has driven 200 yds. and he will place histoken at the 200 yd. mark. If numeral 1 showed, the player succeeded indriving only 100 yards, etc. The playerthen scores his peg 36 byinserting it in the hole to the right of the numeral 1 of his scoringcolumn on the scoring backboard 33. The next player in turn repeats theoperation of rolling the die 38 to indicate his drive along the fairway.

Since hole No. 1 is a 400 yd. hole and the maximum drive that can be hadis a 300 yd. drive, as the die con- 7 tains only markings l, 2 and 3,the respective players are again required to roll the die in order toreach the green or slide 13. The next throw of the die may or may notadvance the respective players to the green, depending on the length ofthe first drive. Once on the green, the next throw of the die 38 by therespective players is used to indicate the total number of puttsrequired to hole out the particular hole. Thus, by a single throw of thedie a, player can hole out on one, two or three putting strokesdepending on the marking of the die which turns up. Consequently, it isto be noted that the player adds the number of putt strokes to thenumber of drives required to reach the green to determine his score fora particular hole. After each of the respective players has holed out ona given hole, the slide 13 representing the putting green is moved asrequired for the play of the next hole, as for example holeNo. 2. Asindicated on board 34, hole No. 2 1s a 300 yd. hole. Thus, the movablegreen is moved to the 300 yd. mark on the fairway and the play resumedas herein described.

From the foregoing it is to be noted that the game is.

realistically played in that all the possibilities of an actual game canoccur. Also, it is to be notedthat by interchanging differentbackboards'having different yardage and par.

scores, any well known golf course play can be simulated.

In accordance with thi invention penalties are also possible. Thisoccurs if a player overdrives a hole..As for example, hole No. 5 is a200 yd holel In'this case the putting green 13 is moved up to the 200yd. markeron.

the fairway portion of the game board. If a player, when he tees off,rolls a 3 on his die, the indication is that he has overdriven the holeas the hole was only 200 yards. In this event the player places hismarker 26 in the appropriate penalty square 31 indicated at the rear ofthe puttlng green, and a penalty of a stroke is incurred.

dexterity or manual skill is not a If desired, a penalty stroke may alsobe had in the event a player overdrives the hole on his second drivefrom the fairway. This situation can arise when the putting green isdisposed at a 300 yd. limit, and a players first drive is 200 yards andhis second stroke is either 200 or 300 yards. From the foregoing, it isto be noted that the players can enjoy a realistic game of golf withoutrequiring the need for hitting a ball over the course as heretoforeknown or relying on any manual skills in doing so.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the play of the gamewill vary from game to game and consequently one will not tire fromrepetition since all the situations possible on an actual golf courseare possible with the game construction.

While the instant invention has been described with reference to aparticular embodiment thereof, it will be readily understood andappreciated that variations and modifications thereof may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A game device in which the game of golf can be authenticallysimulated comprising:

(a) a game board including means defining a raised platform portion tosimulate a fairway portion of a golf course and a Well portion adjacentone end of said platform portion,

(b) means indicating distances on said fairway portion,

(c) means defining a slideway extending longitudinally of said platformportion,

(d) a slide member adapted to be slidably adjusted along said slideway,said slide member simulating the green portion of a golf course,

(e) game tokens adapted to represent players movable over said gameboard,

(f) and indicating means for randomly signifying the lie of an imaginaryball in driving toward the green by a given player and strokes taken toputt a hole after reaching the green by the respective players,

(g) said indicating means including a die,

(b) said die having markings on the faces thereof to represent yardagewhen used to indicate drives and strokes when a player is on the green,

(i) and means for effecting the throw of the die,

(j) said means including a ledge mounted adjacent the end of saidplatform portion and within the well portion of said board,

(k) and means positioned adjacent said ledge to knock said die placed onsaid ledge into said well to effect the throw of the die.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including (a) means connectedto said game board for keeping count of the strokes of each player.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for keepingcount of the strokes of each player include:

(a) a backboard connected to the board,

(b) said backboard having numeral markings thereon to indicate numbersof strokes with a hole disposed on each side of the respective numeralmarkings thereon,

(c) and a peg adapted to be received in said holes to indicate thenumber of strokes taken by each player.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including (a) means connectedto said game board for indicating end of said game the number of holesto be played, the yardage of the respective holes, and the par for eachof said holes.

5. A game device in which the game of golf can be 5 authenticallysimulated comprising:

(a) a game board including opposed elongated side members, a bottommember and a top member connected between said side members, said topmember being spaced from said bottom member, and said top member beingslightly shorter than said bottom member,

(b) whereby said side members and bottom member define a well portionopen at the top adjacent one end of said top member,

(0) said top member defining the fairway portion of a simulated golfcourse,

(d) means indicating fairway distances on said top member,

(e) means defining a slideway extending longitudinally of said topmember and adjacent the side members of said board,

(f) a slide member adapted to be slidably adjusted along the fairwaydefining top member of said board, said slide member simulating aputting green portion of a golf course,

(g) means simulating a hole marked on said slide member,

(h) said slide member including indices thereon indicating the numbersof the holes to be played,

(i) game tokens adapted to represent players,

(j) and indicating means for randomly signifying the distance of a driveof a given player and strokes taken by said player to putt a hole,

(k) said indicating means including a die,

(1) said die having markings on the faces thereof to represent distanceswhen used to indicate drive strokes and numbers of putting strokes whena player is positioned on the green,

(m) and means for effecting the throw of the die,

(n) said means including a ledge connected to a side member of saidboard,

(0) said ledge being disposed adjacent the well portion of said board,

(p) and means for providing an impact to said die placed on said ledgeto knock the same thereoff and into said well.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,173,818 2/1916 Lins 273-87.21,334,176 3/1920 Seagrave 273-134 1,510,385 9/1924 Caulkins 273-87.21,546,837 7/1925 Johnson 273-134 1,635,489 7/1927 McColm 273-1342,180,049 11/1939 Hall 273-134 2,230,332 2/1941 Moore 273-134 X2,489,676 11/1949 Robinson et al. 273-87.2 3,068,009 12/1962 Quackenbushet al. 273-87 3,111,321 11/1963 Hormann 273-134 X FOREIGN PATENTS180,772 6/ 1922 Great Britain.

DELBERT 1 3, LQWE, Primary Examiner,

1. A GAME DEVICE IN WHICH THE GAME OF GOLF CAN BE AUTHENTICALLYSIMULATED COMPRISING: (A) A GAME BOARD INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING A RAISEDPLATFORM PORTION TO SIMULATE FAIRWAY PORTION OF A GOLF COURSE AND A WELLPORTION ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID PLATFORM PORTION, (B) MEANS INDICATINGDISTANCES ON SAID FAIRWAY PORTION, (C) MEANS DEFINING A SLIDEWAYEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID PLATFORM PORTION (D) A SLIDE MEMBERADAPTED TO BE SLIDABLY ADJUSTED ALONG SAID SLIDEWAY, SAID SLIDE MEMBERSIMULATING THE GREEN PORTION OF A GOLF COURSE, (E) GAME TOKENS ADAPTEDTO REPRESENT PLAYERS MOVABLE OVER AND GAME BOARD, (F) AND INDICATINGMEANS FOR RANDOMLY SIGNIFYING THE LIE OF AN IMAGINARY BALL IN DRIVINGTOWARD THE GREEN BY A GIVEN PLAYER AND STROKES TAKEN TO PUTT A HOLEAFTER REACHING THE GREEN BY THE RESPECTIVE PLAYERS, (G) SAID INDICATINGMEANS INCLUDING A DIE, (H) SAID DIE HAVING MARKINGS ON THE FACES THEREOFTO REPRESENT YARDAGE WHEN USED IN INDICATED DRIVES AND STROKES WHEN APLAYER IS ON THE GREEN, (I) AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE THROW OF THEDIE, (J) SAID MEANS INCLUDING A LEDGE MOUNTED ADJACENT THE END OF SAIDPLATFORM PORTION AND WITHIN THE WELL PORTION OF SAID BOARD, (K) ANDMEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID LEDGE TO KNOCK SAID DIE PLACED ON SAIDLEDGE INTO SAID WALL TO EFFECT THE THROW OF THE DIE.